The Comeback Girl by Debra Salonen Read Free Book Online Page B

accepted her offer.
    Her bank account was just about empty. The move had been expensive, and while she’d given three massages last week, she knew from experience that it took months to establish a steady following.
    In the meantime, the money kept flowing out—food, health insurance, car payments. But financial woes aside, she needed every possible advantage when she and Tyler went to court. She’d talked to her attorney on Wednesday right after he got a callfrom Tyler’s lawyer. Things were finally starting to happen.
    “Mr. Harrison has been ill,” James Rohr, her attorney, told her. “He apparently contracted some kind of food poisoning while in Japan, then needed to be hospitalized upon his return to the States. A bleeding ulcer, I believe.”
    “I’m sorry about that. Did learning about Zach’s existence contribute to it?”
    “I certainly hope not, but we should be prepared to counter that charge if it comes up. I’ll hire a detective to look into Mr. Harrison’s medical history. If we can prove this was a preexisting condition, we can argue—”
    She’d been forced to interrupt. “I’m not sure I can afford to hire a detective, Mr. Rohr. I know the smart thing would be to do everything to ensure that Tyler can’t take Zach away from me, but he won’t be able to do that unless he proves I’m an unfit mother, right?”
    “Mr. Harrison’s attorney has a reputation for being extremely tenacious, Kristin. You have several weak spots. You often take evening appointments, correct? Zach is unsupervised presumably for hours at a time. Plus, your history of moving frequently will work against you. And the fact you kept Zach’s existence a secret is problematic. I’m afraid they may try to paint a picture of you as irresponsible.”
    You’re a flighty airhead, Andi had shrieked at Kristin the night of the party. You never think before you act. How can anyone ever trust you again?
    Kristin had spent the past decade trying to prove that she’d changed, but she hadn’t been entirely successful. Even if every move had been a step up, her record could be construed as capricious. And the blotches on her credit report would look bad. They were the result of her poor choice of friends, rather than faulty bookkeeping. A business partner who used their joint credit card for personal use, a roommate who’d run up the phone bill then skipped town.
    Maybe if I could show that someone as rock solid as Donnie Grimaldo trusted me to care for his kid…
    “I’m taking Sarge for a walk,” Zach said, catching her daydreaming.
    Kristin spun around to find her son standing in the hallway—Sarge at his side. She was so shocked that he’d voluntarily approached her and actually spoken to her, she couldn’t reply.
    “Don’t forget about your massage,” he said before turning away.
    Old habits.
    Ida Jane used to tell people that Kristin was the triplet who was born without an inner clock. While her sisters were always punctual, Kristin was late for everything. Zach had been acting as her unofficial appointment secretary ever since he’d learned to tell time.
    “Thank you for reminding me. The lady from the sheriff’s office is sending over one of the deputies. She said he hurt his back yesterday and wasrefusing treatment. I guess I’d better head to the shop.” She hesitated then asked, “Do you and Sarge want to be my escorts?”
    Zach reached down to stroke the dog’s head. Thank goodness Jonathan suggested giving Sarge to Zach. After Sarge’s previous owner, Lars Gunderson, was murdered, Jonathan and Andi brought the old hound home. The timing had coincided with Kristin’s introduction of her son to the family. The dog and the boy had seemed destined to meet.
    “Sarge likes to chase rabbits in that empty field by the fairgrounds,” Zach said, turning away.
    At least it wasn’t a flat-out no. She followed him outside. She wanted so badly to hug him, her fingers twitched.
    “Zach,” she called out when